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3 Injured In Worcester Shopping Plaza Crash

WORCESTER (CBS) – Three people were injured in a crash in the Webster Square Plaza in Worcester on Wednesday that police say was caused by a driver who was high on drugs.

Officials say around 9:40 a.m., an officer working a nearby detail was informed about a car driving erratically in the parking lot.

That car, driven by 20-year-old Ryan Hehir of Shrewsbury, crashed into a support column in front of the Radio Shack.

Following that crash, witness Anthony Rodriguez saw the Hehir appeared to be suffering from a medical condition. Rodriguez tried to reach into the window and put the car in park.

But police say Hehir hit the accelerator, dragging Rodriguez and sending the car into another support column in front of Payless Shoes.

Rodriguez suffered a leg injury.

The officer who had gone over to check out the situation also wound up being struck by the car. He suffered a broken leg.

The sergeant has been released from the hospital. He was treated for an ankle injury.

Hehir was also taken to the hospital and treated. He has since been arrested and charged with failure to stay within one lane, operating negligent so as to endanger, operating under the influence of narcotics and operating under the influence of narcotics causing injury with negligence.